Gabon - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Gabon was 2,005,203 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 2,005,203 in 2020 and a minimum value of 87,150 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 87,150
1961 92,712
1962 100,181
1963 108,292
1964 117,145
1965 126,806
1966 137,393
1967 148,946
1968 161,429
1969 174,662
1970 188,581
1971 204,699
1972 221,627
1973 239,386
1974 258,218
1975 278,254
1976 299,580
1977 322,125
1978 345,935
1979 370,958
1980 397,175
1981 424,476
1982 445,922
1983 468,317
1984 491,733
1985 516,131
1986 541,577
1987 568,016
1988 596,693
1989 626,204
1990 656,508
1991 687,558
1992 719,336
1993 751,721
1994 781,531
1995 811,511
1996 841,987
1997 873,005
1998 904,527
1999 936,488
2000 968,917
2001 1,001,790
2002 1,035,389
2003 1,070,252
2004 1,107,101
2005 1,146,536
2006 1,188,550
2007 1,233,155
2008 1,281,023
2009 1,332,880
2010 1,389,181
2011 1,450,331
2012 1,515,815
2013 1,583,686
2014 1,651,170
2015 1,716,265
2016 1,778,160
2017 1,837,187
2018 1,893,996
2019 1,949,693
2020 2,005,203

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization